All Rise Review: Bye Bye Bernie (Season 1 Episode 14)

On All Rise Season 1 Episode 14, “Bye Bye Bernie,” Lola contends with her mother in the kind of argument that’s about a lot more than either will admit.

After dipping our toes into the tension between Lola and her mother this season, we get a chance to jump into the deep end here. The family dynamics of All Rise are as complicated as the friendships are (mostly) consistently supportive.

On the surface, I’d generally side with Lola’s colleagues in the idea that she’s blowing Roxie’s comments toward her out of proportion. One line in one interview where she’s also complimented? It may be too public, but it shouldn’t be that big a deal.

Yet what matters here is what’s never really said out loud, and the episode does a great job of showing us how complicated this relationship is without having to state it directly.

Roxie isn’t fond of the path Lola has chosen in the judicial system. Fair or not, that’s not going to change. Lola’s hurt and resentment make a lot more sense when we realize this is the full truth she sees in her mother’s words.

I’m happy to see things reach a point where they can come to terms, but that’s not the same as closure. Here’s hoping we get to see as much of Roxie as possible, because they need to talk a lot more—and it’s powerful when they do.

This is territory Mark has led in for a while now, yet Vic comes into this episode only for a sudden dismissal of charges. It’s jarringly quick and I have mixed feelings, especially because it feels Vic’s truly dark nature of that prison conversation has been forgotten.

I’m willing to return to a place where Vic is just problematic and not potentially abusive, but this is another relationship that needs a lot of work. Instead, Vic departs for his own safety. It is heartbreaking and understandable, but the amount left unsaid is frustrating.

It’s also only part of what poor Mark contends with, and that’s on top of having two(!!) broken wrists. Bernie’s case becomes very personal for him, and that too ties back into what we miss for him and Vic.

Will we ever see their closure? Perhaps, but as we stand now, I’m back to predicting that Vic may well be written off, probably through death. If so, all of this becomes even more of a gut punch, and we’ll never get these important conversations.

Don’t unbuckle your seatbelts, though. The emotional Lolacoaster still has a few hills when it comes to Emily’s case and Luke’s future.

The case is the kind I’d really like to spend more time with; a tragic story of several people dealing with a lot of pain meeting in a confrontation that ends with one woman dead and another accused of murder.

I appreciate, as I do with the contention between Lola and Roxie, that there are no real villains here. Izzy is innocent, having acted in self-defense, but Vera’s death also comes about as a result of her lashing out in her own pain.

Izzy is a great character, not afraid to contend with Emily while also seeing the humanity in everyone and empathizing even with those accusing her. Seeing the prison system through her eyes is a too-brief look at why Emily does the work she does.

Also too brief is the glimpse of Emily’s backstory we get. We’ve heard the most from Lola and Mark, but everyone here carries a lot of weight that deserves to be explored in more detail.

Luke gives us at least something of a breather, even as he faces major career and life changes. I’m honestly a bit surprised he’s going with the DA (at least for now,) but he’ll be fantastic anywhere.

If we’re expecting any tension for Lemily over this, it doesn’t come yet. It’s refreshing to see her so supportive of what might be a complicated moment for her while still acknowledging those complications exist—a cue many other TV couples could benefit from.

Other Notes

• The true bright spot in having Vic’s story come where it has is that Mark and Amy are free to be official now. Yes, I’m on board. I’m not sure it’s end game, but I’ll stay while it’s here.
• I love Lola’ father. As interesting as mother/daughter drama is, he plays a wise peacemaker here and it brings a couple lovely scenes.
• Benner’s running for attorney general. We get no further that her telling Lola, but with those other comments about her still simmering, this has to be the start of something much bigger to come.
• Can someone explain to me how Mark is driving a car with two broken wrists?

 

What did you think of this episode of All Rise? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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All Rise airs Mondays at 9/8c on CBS.

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